Sheffield Wednesday: Gray backs new Owls committee

Dom Howson

Head coach Stuart Gray has welcomed Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri’s decision to bring in Adam Pearson and Glenn Roeder as part of a new management team at Hillsborough.

The Championship club revealed on Monday that Pearson, the former owner and chairman of Hull City and owns Hull FC rugby league club, and ex-Newcastle boss Roeder will be advisors to Wednesday chief Chansiri.

Gray, Pearson and Roeder will form “a three-man sporting director by committee”, with Roeder tasked with working on the team while Pearson will aim to expand the club’s business strategy.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s lunch-time Yorkshire derby clash at home to Leeds United, Gray said: “I am delighted Adam [Pearson] and Glenn [Roeder] have both come in. They are two football people. They have great experience, contacts and I am looking forward to working with them.

“They are going to be great additions to the football club because we all want to get to that promised land (the Premier League).”

The Wednesday boss, who insists he remains in charge of team selection, said Jose Semedo (foot), Claude Dielna (hamstring), Will Keane (ankle) and Keiren Westwood (thigh) are all pushing for first-team returns.

“Adam and Glenn have great experience, contacts and I am looking forward to working with them.”

Stuart Gray

However, Sam Hutchinson (hamstring) and Kamil Zayatte (cheekbone) will miss the final two fixtures of the campaign. The duo picked up their injuries in Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.